Senate Resolution

WHEREAS chronic pain affects 15 to 20 percent of the adult population, that is approximately 6 million Canadians, and is a growing problem associated with increasing age and the development of chronic illnesses;

WHEREAS chronic pain inflicts a silent burden on individuals and on society in health care costs, lack of productivity and personal suffering;

WHEREAS chronic pain requires a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and management but access to special pain services is very limited often taking more than one year for an initial assessment;

WHEREAS untreated acute pain can often lead to chronic pain and there is recent evidence that acute pain is poorly managed in half of hospitalized Canadian patients

WHEREAS the majority of health care professionals have little knowledge of the patho-physiology, diagnosis or treatment of pain;

WHEREAS more research is needed to improve knowledge of pain mechanisms and evaluation of different approaches to treatment;

AND WHEREAS the Canadian Pain Coalition, a patient led organization which includes representation of clinicians, researchers and educators, is dedicated to improving knowledge of pain, enhancing pain education for health care providers and improving the availability and quality of care for those suffering chronic pain disorders;

NOW ,THEREFORE, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, moves as follows:

PAIN AWARENESS WEEK

1. Throughout Canada, in each and every year, the first week of the month of November shall be known as “National Pain Awareness Week”.